1
as in perplexes
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complicates
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mistakes
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
a lot of people confuse popular fame with enduring achievement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in embarrasses
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in disrupts
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confuses
These opportunists drown out the core mission, creating a cacophony of competing voices that confuses donors, crowd the inboxes of CEOs and members of Congress with colliding petitions, and paralyzes meaningful action by draining critical funding and attention away from the truly effective groups.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
28 June 2026
But nobody confuses Harvard Extension School classes with the real thing.
—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
23 June 2026
If a neighbor or sibling confuses the thread, summarize and invite a decision.
—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 June 2026
There is a version of leadership that confuses visibility with impact, equating big initiatives and dramatic turnarounds with strong leadership.
—
Monica Cutia,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
The whole concept of toxic fandom confuses me because, outside of the anger and backwards thinking, because who cares about a movie franchise that much?
—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
The herb’s fragrance confuses and deters pests from eating your peppers.
—
Sheryl Geerts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2026
Mercury’s clash with Neptune confuses intentions.
—
Usa Today,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
If a portal confuses you, call the provider, pharmacy or insurance plan directly using the number on your card or the official website.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
28 June 2026
But nobody confuses Harvard Extension School classes with the real thing.
—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
23 June 2026
If a neighbor or sibling confuses the thread, summarize and invite a decision.
—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 June 2026
There is a version of leadership that confuses visibility with impact, equating big initiatives and dramatic turnarounds with strong leadership.
—
Monica Cutia,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
The whole concept of toxic fandom confuses me because, outside of the anger and backwards thinking, because who cares about a movie franchise that much?
—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
The herb’s fragrance confuses and deters pests from eating your peppers.
—
Sheryl Geerts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2026
Mercury’s clash with Neptune confuses intentions.
—
Usa Today,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
If a portal confuses you, call the provider, pharmacy or insurance plan directly using the number on your card or the official website.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuses
Verb
-
But the unknown in that equation is what perplexes the Mavericks and has the team stuck for now.
Verb
-
By utilizing a platform that provides a One Experience for data, networking, and security, IT teams reduce the variability that traditionally complicates Day 0 and Day 2 operations.
-
For Tokyo, that complicates the effectiveness of any unilateral intervention.
Verb
-
The organization mistakes documented activity for evidence of contribution.
-
The current podcasting landscape, to him, already mistakes access for art.
Verb
-
Graft inquiry embarrasses Zelensky Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said in a Telegram announcement that the investigation into Yermak is ongoing.
-
Now the technology embarrasses an umpire even more than a player could, and what’s the recourse?
Verb
-
Live Local also disrupts years of successful and careful planning by the city to promote compatible, consistent development in neighborhoods like Wynwood.
-
After all, the status quo looks safer than making a big bet on something that disrupts everything from operations to revenue.
Verb
-
For three years straight, he’s kept up a pace that bewilders the industry’s leading comics.
-
The narrator and his wife find that their attachment to the charismatic and cryptic Chibi grows with the cat’s increasing visits, in a way that bewilders them but somehow bonds them closer together.
Verb
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Critics say the reading list lacks diversity, blurs the separation of church and state that is enshrined in the Constitution and leaves teachers and students with little room to decide what to read.
-
As the line blurs, sometimes exes remain in your life, and friends might become lovers.
Verb
-
Critics argue Hinton conflates perception with experience, stressing consciousness is a first-person fact, not merely a functional process.
-
But Kennedy’s initiative conflates that genuine clinical need with claims unsupported by evidence — and some that are actively dangerous.
Cite this Entry
“Confuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuses. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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